OREANDA-NEWS. Basel Aero, part of Russia's largest diversified industrial group Basic Element, announces operational results for 2014 noting that passenger traffic across the company's four airports increased by 25% year-on-year.

Airports in Sochi, Anapa, Krasnodar and Gelendzhik, operated by Basel Aero, served 7.7 million passengers in 2014, 25% more than in 2013 when 6.2 million passengers went through the terminals.

Over 6.5 million passengers used the domestic lines, 28% growth year-on-year. More than 1.2 million passengers have passed through the airports on international routes what is 11% more than in 2013. The airports serviced 41,695 flights in 2014, up 24% year-on-year. Basel Aero airports processed 15,088 tonnes of cargo and mail exceeding the last year's numbers by 11%.

Sochi International Airport that operated as the main gateway to the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as Russian Formula-1 Grand Prix, has demonstrated a significant growth in passenger numbers in 2014. The airport served over 3 million passengers, 28% growth year-on-year, a record number for the last 23 years. Over 2.7 million passengers were served on domestic routes (30% more than last year) and over 311,000 - on international destinations (9% growth year-on-year).

Krasnodar International Airport served over 3.4 million passengers in 2014, 20% increase year-on-year. Over 2.4 million passengers made up the airport's domestic traffic with 23% growth, international lines handled more than 926,000 people, demonstrating 11% growth.

Anapa International Airport served over 1 million in 2014, 37% increase year-on-year.

Leonid Sergeyev, Basel Aero CEO:

"Basel Aero airports passed several major milestones in 2014. We managed not only to provide highest standards of service during the Olympics and F1 Grand Prix in Sochi but to hit three records on passenger traffic with Krasnodar and Sochi serving 3rd million passengers and Anapa airport passing the million passenger milestone.

On top of that, Sochi International Airport entered Open Skies regime in October 2014 that allows any foreign carriers to pick up and drop off passengers and cargo with no restrictions on aircraft types, frequencies, and regardless of interstate agreements. In addition, foreign airlines are also allowed to operate flights with a stopover in Sochi, where they can take new passengers on board.

Basel Aero expects further traffic growth as more and more carriers will perform flights to Sochi under the aegis of Open Skies and during an upcoming summer season."